Self-latching hinge

ABSTRACT

A self-latching cabinet hinge includes a tubular pressure roller supported by a spring member attached to the first of two pivotally connected hinge members. The pressure roller cooperates with the edge of a hinge knuckle of the second hinge member to perform the latching function. The spring member comprises a unitary, resilient wire having a central pressure roller supporting section the ends of which are bent back to define return sections which are gripped by ears on the first hinge member. The free ends of the return sections are bent at right angles to form retaining sections which cross the roller supporting section and loop around the hinge pin.

United States Patent Lloyd [45] Apr. 24, 1973 SELF-LATCHING HINGE Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman [75] Inventor. Gerald A. Lloyd, Monterey Park, Anomey flam and Flam Calif.

[73] Assignee: Jaybee Manufacturing Corporation, [57] ABSTRACT LOS Angeles Cahf' A self-latching cabinet hinge includes a tubular pres- [22] Filed: June 23, 1971 sure roller supported by a spring member attached to Appl. No.: 155,943

15b i 2 5 I 35 a 25- W the first of two pivotally connected hinge members. The pressure roller cooperates with the edge of a hinge knuckle of the second hinge member to perform the latching function. The spring member comprises a unitary, resilient wire having a central pressure roller supporting section the ends of which are bent back to define return sections which are gripped by ears on the first hinge member. The free ends of the return sections are bent at right angles to form retaining sections which cross the roller supporting section and loop around the hinge pin.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SELF-LATCHING HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-latching hinge, and particularly to such a hinge wherein the latching mechanism includes a pressure roller supported by a unitary wire spring member attached to one hinge member and having wire ends looped around the hinge 1 pin.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years, self-latching hinges have gained widespread acceptance for use in cabinetry and like applications. Such hinges provide pivotal connection between a cabinet door and its supporting frame, and also function to maintain the cabinet door closed without the use of a separate door latch. As a result, not only is the cost of the latch eliminated, but an even greater saving is realized by doing away with the labor involved with mounting and aligning the latch. Often this installation cost is greater than the price of the latch itself.

Self-latching hinge structures of this type incorporate spring devices of one form or another. The spring force must of necessity be large because the spring exerts its force very close to the axis of the cabinet door. The primary problem is how to anchor, assemble and conceal a highly stressed spring. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,532 to MacDonald, a simple spring rod is provided. A pressure roller is carried at the middle of the rod. The spring rod is neatly concealed and adequately anchored by tabs struck up from the hinge leaf. The difficulty is that the spring rod must be stressed as it is assembled. In practice, spring tension was compromised in favor of ease of assembly. The spring tension proved inadequate to close a large or heavy cabinet door.

In the later U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,484 to MacDonald, an improved flat loop spring design permits a simpler assembly. However, spring retaining tabs leave an unsightly hole that requires a separate cover to provide a neat appearance. Installing the cover requires an extra assembly operation.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,332 to Jerila, a self-latching hinge is provided in which a spring first is mounted on a carriage. The carriage and spring are assembled with the hinge leaves and hinge pin in one operation. The carriage is designed fully to close an opening in the corresponding hinge leaf, thereby providing an attractive package. However, the separate carriage and subassembly adds to the cost and complexity of the hinge.

The present invention overcomes various shortcomings of the prior art by providing a self-latching hinge having a minimum of components, which is easy to assemble, and which is attractive in appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a self-latching hinge suitable, e.g., for mounting a cabinet door to a frame. The hinge provides pivotal support for the door and maintains the door in a closed position without the use ofa separate latch.

In a preferred embodiment, the inventive hinge includes first and second hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin. One of the members includes a notched hinge knuckle only partly surrounding the hinge pin. Attached to the other member by means ofa pair of ears is a spring member supporting a pressure roller which cooperates with the hinge knuckle to perform the latching function.

The spring member comprises a unitary, resilient wire having a central, pressure roller supporting section the ends of which are bent back to define return sections gripped by thehinge member ears. The free ends of the return sections extend at right angles across the central section and terminate at loops surrounding the 0 hinge pin. Thus the return sections prevent lateral motion of the pressure roller supporting section.

The inventive device has only four component parts which are easy to fabricate, providing an inexpensive self-latching hinge of attractive appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the inventionwill be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings, unless described as diagrammatic or unless otherwise indicated, are to scale.

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the inventive self-latching hinge installed on a cabinet door and shown in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pressure roller and roller supporting spring member utilized in the hinge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the hinge installation of FIG. 1, as seen generally along the lines 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 3, as seen generally along the line 44 thereof.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the hinge installation of FIG. 1, but shown with the hinge and cabinet door in the open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention best is defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, it may be seen that a plurality of cabinet frame elements including a vertical frame element 6 define an opening 7. A door 8 is provided to close the opening. The door 8, by way of example, has a rabbet groove 9 to provide an overlap fit with the edges of the frame opening 7. The door 8 is supported for hinged movement by the aid of two or more hinge structures 10 one of which is shown in the drawings. All of the hinges for the door 8 preferably are identical.

In the present instance, the hinges 10 are of the offset type in order to fit the rabbet groove 9. One leaf 12 of the hinge 10 has a decorative attaching flange 13 secured, as by screws 14, to the outer face of the frame element 6. The leaf 12 has three coaxial, closely spaced hinge knuckles 15a, 15b and 16, located at the end ofa right-angle hinge knuckle plate 17.

The other hinge leaf 18 includes an offset attachment 1 plate 19 secured as by screws 20 behind the door 8. A

right angled intermediate section 21 of the hinge leaf 18 seats within the rabbet groove 9 and connects the attachment plate 19 to a pair of spaced hinge knuckle plates 22 (FIG. 4). Located at the ends of the knuckle plates 22 are a pair of coaxial hinge knuckles 23 spaced widely to receive between them the hinge knuckles 15a, 15b and 16 of the companion hinge leaf 12. A hinge pin 25 interconnects all the knuckles.

To urge the door 8 to its closed position relative to the frame opening 7, a spring structure is provided. The hinge leaf 18 in this instance is urged in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and about the hinge pin 25 as an axis. The spring structure is accommodated between the knuckle plates 17 and 22. The spring structure includes two parts: a unitary, resilient wire spring member 26 (detailed in FIG. 2) and a pressure roller 27 through which the central section 28 of the spring member 26 is threaded.

As evident in FIG. 4, the central section 28 of the spring member extends across and beyond the recess 29 between the spaced knuckle plates 22, at a position just inwardly of the hinge knuckles a, 15b. The ends 30 of the spring member 26 are bent back in generally U-shape to form a pair of return sections 31 which extend along the bases of the knuckle plates 22. The ends 30 thus seat against the inner surfaces of the spaced knuckle plates 22, hidden from exterior view.

The spring member 26 also has generally parallel retaining sections 32 which extend across the central section 28 and terminate in loops 33 which encircle the hinge pin 25 at opposite ends of the central hinge knuckle 16. A pair of tabs or ears 34, struck from the hinge leaf 18 adjacent the knuckle plates 22, engage the spring member return sections 31. Thus the loops 33 coiled about the hinge pin 25 cooperate with the tabs 34 to anchor the spring member 26 to the hinge leaf 18.

The roller 27 together with the central portion 28 of the spring member 26 upon which it is mounted may be flexed radially away from the hinge pin 25, as to the position shown in phantom at 27' in FIG. 4. The roller 27 will be returned resiliently by virtue of the stress built up in the spring member 26.

When the door 8 is in closed position (FIG. 1), a notch 35 in the knuckle 16 exposes the side of the hinge pin 25 to the roller 27. The roller 27 bears against the edge of the notch 35 such that the spring member 26 is slightly stressed. The stress is transmitted to the door 8 to provide a positive spring force holding the door closed. The reaction between the roller 27 and the edge of the notch '35 falls along the line joining the roller supporting section 28 and the edge of the notch 35. The line of action of this force falls to the left of the axis of the hinge pin 25 as shown in FIG. 1. Ac-

cordingly, the turning torque imposed upon the hinge leaf l8 and the door 8 is in a counterclockwise direction about the hinge pin 25. The spring member retaining sections 32 prevent the roller supporting section 28 from deflecting laterally under the influence of the force reaction produced at the notch 35 edge.

When the door is moved away from its closed position (FIG. 1) and toward its open position (FIG. 5), the roller 27 is carried out of the notch 35. Such movement is yieldingly resisted by the action of the spring member The hinge axis defined by the pin 25 is offset outwardly from the attaching flanges 13, 19 of the hinge leafs in order to allow sufficient space to accommodate the two-part spring structure. The recess 29 between the knuckle plates 22 is largely concealed by the edge of the door 8. The retaining tabs 34 are located as close as possible to'the center of the hinge so as to be unobtrusive even if they are not entirely concealed by the door. The outer surface of the hinge plate 19 is directly exposed to view. However, this surface reveals only two narrow slots for the. looped ends 33 of the spring member 26, and a neat appearance accordingly is provided. I

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, I make the following claims:

1. A self-latching hinge comprising:

a. a first hinge member comprising an attachment plate and a first knuckle plate extending therefrom, said first knuckle plate including a first pair of spaced coaxial bearing sleeves, and therebetween, a pair of ears for attachment of a pressure roller supporting spring member,

b. a second hinge member comprising a fastening plate and a second knuckle plate extending therefrom, said second knuckle plate including a second pair of spaced coaxial bearing sleeves, and therebetween, a central bearing sleeve notched to receive said pressure roller only when said hinge is closed,

c. a hinge pin extending through said first and second pairs of bearing sleeves and through said central bearing sleeve, to pivotally connect said first and second hinge members,

. a tubular pressure roller adapted to seat in the notch of said central bearing sleeve only when said hinge is closed, and

e. a pressure roller supporting spring member comprising a unitary piece of resilient wire having l a central section extending through said tubular pressure roller, (2) each end of said central section being bent back to define (3) a pair of return sections spaced from but generally parallel to said central section, said ears engaging said return sections, (4) the free ends of said return sections being bent at generally right angles to define (5) a pair of generally parallel retaining sections crossing said central portion, (6) said retaining sections each terminating in a loop surrounding said hinge pin adjacent a respective end of said central bearing sleeve.

2. In a hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, a self-latching mechanism comprising a notched hinge knuckle on one hinge member cooperating with a pressure member supported by a unitary wire spring member connected to the other hinge member, retaining sections of said unitary wire being configured to limit lateral movement of said pressure roller, said retaining sections terminating in loops surrounding said hinge pin.

3. A hinge as defined in claim 2 wherein said pressure member is cylindrical, and wherein said unitary wire spring member includes: a central section extending through said cylindrical pressure member, and generally U-shaped ends joining said central section to return sections engaged by said other hinge member, said retaining sections comprising extensions of said return sections.

4. A hinge as defined in claim 3 wherein said other hinge member includes a knuckle plate having tabs engaging said return sections.

5. A hinge as defined in claim 4 wherein the portion of wire joining each retaining section to'the respective return section is arcuate.

6. A hinge as defined in claim 4 wherein each retaining section is connected to said hinge at one end by one of said tabs and at the other end by one of said hinge pin surrounding loops, whereby a portion of said central section is retained between said knuckle plate and said retaining section.

7. In a self-latching hinge having first and second hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, a self-latching mechanism comprising:

a notched hinge pin bearing sleeve (knuckle) formed at the end of a knuckle plate integral with said' second hinge member, and

a pressure roller supported by a unitary wire spring member gripped by ears formed in a knuckle plate integral with said first hinge member,

said spring member resiliently forcing said roller toward said bearing sleeve and into releaseable engagement with the notch thereof when said hinge is closed,

said unitary wire including retaining sections crossing the roller supporting portion of said spring member at generally right angles with respect to the axis of said pressure roller, the ends of said retaining sections engaging said hinge pin, said ears and retaining sections together limiting lateral motion of said roller away from the knuckle plate of said first hinge member.

8. A self-latching hinge comprising:

a. a first hinge member comprising an attachment plate and a first knuckle plate extending outwardly therefrom, said first knuckle plate having two spaced parts, each of said parts having at its distal end a hinge knuckle, said hinge knuckles being coaxial, said attachment plate having at the region of the distal ends of said knuckle plate parts a pair of spaced ears for anchoring a pressure roller supporting spring member;

b. a second hinge member comprising an attachment plate and a second knuckle plate extending outwardly therefrom, said second knuckle plate having at its distal end hinge knuckle means notched to receive said pressure roller only when said hinge is closed;

0. a hinge pin extending through said hinge knuckles pivotally to connect said first and second hinge members;

d. said hinge knuckle plates opposing each other and defining a space for accommodating a self-closing spring mechanism;

e. a tubular pressure roller;

f. a pressure roller supporting spring member located behind said hinge knuckle plate parts and comprising a unitary piece of resilient wire having (1) a central section extending through said tubular pressure roller, (2) each end of said central section being bent back to define (3) a pair of return sections spaced from but generally parallel to said central section, said ears engaging said return sections to prevent turning movement of said sprin member about said hinge pin and to keep the en s of said spring member seated against said parts, (4) the free ends of said return sections being bent at generally right angles to define (5) a pair of generally spaced parallel retaining sections crossing said central portion and closely encompassing said roller, (6) said retaining sections each terminating in a loop surrounding said hinge pin adjacent a respective end of said central bearing sleeve; and

g. said ears being located to engage the corner of the retaining sections.

9. The hinge as set forth in claim 8 in which the attachment plate of said first hinge member has a configuration to fit behind a cabinet door so that the edge of the cabinet door shields the space between said knuckle plate parts and said ears. 

1. A self-latching hinge comprising: a. a first hinge member comprising an attachment plate and a first knuckle plate extending therefrom, said first knuckle plate including a first pair of spaced coaxial bearing sleeves, and therebetween, a pair of ears for attachment of a pressure roller supporting spring member, b. a second hinge member comprising a fastening plate and a second knuckle plate extending therefrom, said second knuckle plate including a sEcond pair of spaced coaxial bearing sleeves, and therebetween, a central bearing sleeve notched to receive said pressure roller only when said hinge is closed, c. a hinge pin extending through said first and second pairs of bearing sleeves and through said central bearing sleeve, to pivotally connect said first and second hinge members, d. a tubular pressure roller adapted to seat in the notch of said central bearing sleeve only when said hinge is closed, and e. a pressure roller supporting spring member comprising a unitary piece of resilient wire having (1) a central section extending through said tubular pressure roller, (2) each end of said central section being bent back to define (3) a pair of return sections spaced from but generally parallel to said central section, said ears engaging said return sections, (4) the free ends of said return sections being bent at generally right angles to define (5) a pair of generally parallel retaining sections crossing said central portion, (6) said retaining sections each terminating in a loop surrounding said hinge pin adjacent a respective end of said central bearing sleeve.
 2. In a hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, a self-latching mechanism comprising a notched hinge knuckle on one hinge member cooperating with a pressure member supported by a unitary wire spring member connected to the other hinge member, retaining sections of said unitary wire being configured to limit lateral movement of said pressure roller, said retaining sections terminating in loops surrounding said hinge pin.
 3. A hinge as defined in claim 2 wherein said pressure member is cylindrical, and wherein said unitary wire spring member includes: a central section extending through said cylindrical pressure member, and generally U-shaped ends joining said central section to return sections engaged by said other hinge member, said retaining sections comprising extensions of said return sections.
 4. A hinge as defined in claim 3 wherein said other hinge member includes a knuckle plate having tabs engaging said return sections.
 5. A hinge as defined in claim 4 wherein the portion of wire joining each retaining section to the respective return section is arcuate.
 6. A hinge as defined in claim 4 wherein each retaining section is connected to said hinge at one end by one of said tabs and at the other end by one of said hinge pin surrounding loops, whereby a portion of said central section is retained between said knuckle plate and said retaining section.
 7. In a self-latching hinge having first and second hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, a self-latching mechanism comprising: a notched hinge pin bearing sleeve (knuckle) formed at the end of a knuckle plate integral with said second hinge member, and a pressure roller supported by a unitary wire spring member gripped by ears formed in a knuckle plate integral with said first hinge member, said spring member resiliently forcing said roller toward said bearing sleeve and into releaseable engagement with the notch thereof when said hinge is closed, said unitary wire including retaining sections crossing the roller supporting portion of said spring member at generally right angles with respect to the axis of said pressure roller, the ends of said retaining sections engaging said hinge pin, said ears and retaining sections together limiting lateral motion of said roller away from the knuckle plate of said first hinge member.
 8. A self-latching hinge comprising: a. a first hinge member comprising an attachment plate and a first knuckle plate extending outwardly therefrom, said first knuckle plate having two spaced parts, each of said parts having at its distal end a hinge knuckle, said hinge knuckles being coaxial, said attachment plate having at the region of the distal ends of said knuckle plate parts a pair of spaced ears for anchoring a pressure roller supportiNg spring member; b. a second hinge member comprising an attachment plate and a second knuckle plate extending outwardly therefrom, said second knuckle plate having at its distal end hinge knuckle means notched to receive said pressure roller only when said hinge is closed; c. a hinge pin extending through said hinge knuckles pivotally to connect said first and second hinge members; d. said hinge knuckle plates opposing each other and defining a space for accommodating a self-closing spring mechanism; e. a tubular pressure roller; f. a pressure roller supporting spring member located behind said hinge knuckle plate parts and comprising a unitary piece of resilient wire having (1) a central section extending through said tubular pressure roller, (2) each end of said central section being bent back to define (3) a pair of return sections spaced from but generally parallel to said central section, said ears engaging said return sections to prevent turning movement of said spring member about said hinge pin and to keep the ends of said spring member seated against said parts, (4) the free ends of said return sections being bent at generally right angles to define (5) a pair of generally spaced parallel retaining sections crossing said central portion and closely encompassing said roller, (6) said retaining sections each terminating in a loop surrounding said hinge pin adjacent a respective end of said central bearing sleeve; and g. said ears being located to engage the corner of the retaining sections.
 9. The hinge as set forth in claim 8 in which the attachment plate of said first hinge member has a configuration to fit behind a cabinet door so that the edge of the cabinet door shields the space between said knuckle plate parts and said ears. 